We live in a gun culture. There are millions of people in this country who own guns, who regularly shoot guns in safe and supervised situations, and who insist on their right to carry guns for their protection. I don't really know that culture. I have never owned a gun. I never wanted to, nor felt that I needed to. If I remember correctly, I have used a gun twice - once at a skeet range when I was at Boy Scout camp, and another time in northern Wisconsin in a secluded area under careful adult supervision. My friend and I shot at an empty coffee can about 50 yards away. I was about ten.

Whether we are fully engaged in and supportive of the gun culture - or have no connection to it, we are all affected by the scourge of gun violence. Read more.

After the school shooting in Parkland, FL on Ash Wednesday, the Rev. Melissa Hall and the Rev. Audrey Hasselbrook of St. James in Upper Montclair felt paralyzed on how to respond to yet another mass shooting.

On Friday Hall received the call to action from Bishop Mark Beckwith and his colleagues in Bishops United Against Gun Violence. She was struck by one of the calls in particular:

Read more.

Our youth made a big impact at The Diocesan Convention this year. We had 22 youth present - as elected delegates and pages. At a dinner on January 14, our youth were given an orientation as to their roles and responsibilities which they took very seriously. One of our big talking points was that as youth they need to get their voices heard by the larger church. Read more.

The Rev. Cynthia Black and Church of the Redeemer, Morristown:
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: Race on the menu, Feb. 9, as Bethel celebrates 175 years in Morristown

The Rev. Tom Mathews and Christ Church, Ridgewood:
Double Your Holiday Pleasure (at 1:24 in video)
"For the first time since 1945, Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day share the same day. And while love is in the air, for Christians today marks the official start of Lent."

Bishop Mark Beckwith:
Churches offer drive-thru ashes on Ash Wednesday (at 1:09 in video)
FEB 14, 2018 | FOX News

SAT, FEB 24 @ ST. JAMES', UPPER MONTCLAIR*
SAT, MAR 3 @ CHRIST CHURCH, POMPTON LAKES
SAT, MAR 24 @ GRACE CHURCH, MADISON

The Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF) is over 75 years old. It has individual members, 30 chapters around the country, Peace Partner congregations, and Action Groups that meet by conference call based on common interest.

Please join us and learn the basics about EPF, pick up resources for Holy Week Prayers and Vigils about violence in our communities, learn about the Urban Pilgrimage to New York City and Jersey City in May, and about the Young Adult Delegation to the General Convention in Austin in July.

We will discuss your priorities for our Diocese of Newark Chapter. Find out more.

Middle School Retreat
Human Kind: Be Both
FRI, MAR 9, 7 PM - SUN, MAR 11, 1 PM

OR FRI, APR 20, 7 PM - SUN, APR 22, 1 PM

@ CROSS ROADS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

SAT, APR 28, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

The Search/Nominating Committee asks for your continued prayers as they prayerfully discern who to raise up as final candidates for XI Bishop of the Diocese of Newark. On March 5 the Standing Committee will announce the slate of three to five candidates, and will also open the Petition Process, which closes at 5 PM on March 15. For more details, see the February Update from the Bishop Search/Nominating Committee published Feb. 14.

In this episode, Bishop Mark Beckwith and his interfaith colleagues Imam W. Deen Shareef and Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz discuss power and workplace sexual harassment with guests Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and legal expert Mara Levin. Watch this and previous episodes here.

Canonical deadline for 2017 Parochial Reports
THU, MAR 1

The Episcopal Church Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance (known as PB&F) invites comments on the draft budget for the 2019-2021 triennium. The deadline for offering feedback is Thursday, May 31. PB&F will hold face-to-face hearings during General Convention and reminds the church that all resolutions must be filed by 5 pm Central on July 7, the 2nd day of Convention. Find out more.